Golden Child To Target In Fantasy Football

I’m worried that we are drafting the wrong Packers WR.

Yesterday, Joe Metz explained how recent camp quotes had resulted in a legitimate rankings and projections jump for Colts WR Josh Downs.

I’m completely on board with it and continue to think we should be drafting Downs much higher than where he’s going (and higher than his own teammate, Alec Pierce, for that matter).

But the discussion got me thinking about another young, efficient WR who we are all forecasting big things for: Packers WR Jayden Reed.

Reed got a fat extension this offseason, and the team seemingly cleared the runway for more playing time by letting Romeo Doubs walk in free agency and trading Dontayvion Wicks to the Eagles.

But what if things aren’t changing for Reed? What if he isn’t getting the usage bump that the Colts are promising for Downs, and he remains off the field in 2-WR sets—something that has been a bugaboo for his fantasy value throughout his entire career.

Because the reports out of Green Bay indicate that it’s Matthew Golden, not Reed, who is playing alongside Christian Watson in 2-WR sets.

Isn’t it just as likely that the team was comfortable moving on from Doubs and Wicks because of their faith in Golden? A Year 2 leap from a Round 1 pick is not a crazy thing to dream on.

When you factor in the reporting (bullish for Golden), the hype from camp (everyone is gassing him up—even Watson), and the price (Golden is 26 picks cheaper), it’s basically impossible not to prefer Golden right now.

As a longtime Reed stan, that sentence was tough for me to write, but it’s not a prior I want to be anchored to.

I’ll be loading up on Golden in the short term while I correct this blind spot in my portfolio.

MORE ADP VALUES THAT RIVAL GOLDEN

Chase Glory For The Next 5 Years

The accomplishments are already significant for Ja’Marr Chase. OROY in 2021, compiling 1,455 receiving yards and 13 TDs. Again, he was a rookie! An otherworldly 127-1,708-17 Triple Crown season in 2024. Last season, with QB Joe Burrow missing nine games, Chase still posted a solid 125-1,412-8. He’s 26 and that’s his floor production. You can lock him in for more big production the next five seasons, and likely beyond.

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Around the Watercooler

The latest fantasy and NFL gossip, news, memes and more from your favorite football nerds …

😬 The five most-dropped players in dynasty … is it time to cut the cord??

🏈 This remains one of the elite offenses in football. Run it back.

🤑 Another tight end gets PAID. This one’s a potential late-round steal.

🔮 Predicting this player finishes #1 at his position. Book it.

⚠️ The riskiest players to draft? Father Time is undefeated.

👩🏽‍🍳 Will we finally stop underestimating this RB? He cooks defenses.

📈 The hype for the Chargers keeps building. What’s not to like?

🎉 A WR wants to party like it’s 2023. With his best QB ever.

👩‍🎤 You won’t believe who attended TE U. OK, maybe you will …

🪓 Could the Bills trade a WR? He’s on the chopping block.

💪 Will this player “manage” a big season? Load him up.

Late-Round QB Strategy: Go High Ceiling or Floor?

Pounce on Josh Allen, or wait and load up the roster? Ah, the conundrum that so many fantasy football managers will have to deal with this draft season around the third round when Allen’s name is staring at them alongside a bunch of good, though not elite, RBs and WRs.

If you’re looking to wait, you’ll have some company with self-described late-round QB proponent Adam Pfeifer laying out this strategy that will be popular this summer. And here he introduces three of the better options, all with different ceilings and outlooks for the season ahead. ⤵️

A PAIR OF BREAKOUTS AWAIT?

Tight End Sleepers With Week-Winning Upside: Is Juwan Johnson The Answer?

Wait, we can draft one of last year’s top fantasy tight ends in the 14th round?

Sign us up.

Juwan Johnson quietly posted career highs across the board in 2025, finishing with 77 receptions, 889 yards and 3 touchdowns while developing immediate chemistry with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. The sure-handed veteran hauled in 75.5% of his targets, and the consistency was impressive.

Johnson produced nine top-12 fantasy weeks and closed the season particularly strong, seeing at least 4 targets in each of his final 11 games while averaging nearly 60 receiving yards and 4.6 catches per contest.

That’s not a fluke. It’s a role.

Chris Olave remains New Orleans’ No. 1 pass-catching option and first-round rookie Jordyn Tyson should earn meaningful targets as well.

After that? Things get murky.

Johnson has already established trust with Shough in a Kellen Moore-Doug Nussmeier offense that will continue prioritizing the passing game.

New addition Noah Fant could cut into Johnson’s workload, but the latter has already shown he can be a productive fantasy performer in this system.

At TE20, there are too many paths to success to ignore.

TWO MORE LATE-ROUND TEs TO CLICK

Allen, Maye … Other QBs Go Away?

Quite the start for the AFC East quarterbacks with former MVP Josh Allen and MVP runner-up Drake Maye at the head of the QB class. Then there’s a bit of a dropoff to Malik Willis and Geno Smith. Is it as startling when it comes the other teams in the division? Kendall and Ian drop the breakdown of all the fantasy-relevant players in this division. Catch this and all the episodes of the Fantasy Life Show when you subscribe to our YouTube channel.

COOK, ACHANE OR HALL AS TOP RB?

Published Jun 25, 2026, 7:00 AM ET